THE MARAMA.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 December 1915, Page 8

THE MARAMA.

No. 2 HOSPITAL SHIP. AT WELLINGTON. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Yesterday. The hospital ship Mariana, the second New Zealand vessel to be fitted up for service abroad under the Red Cross flag, arrived at Wellington at 1 p.m. yesterday from Port Chalmers. As the vessel steamed up the harbor she presented a very pleasing sight, and excited in watchers a feeling of pride in the good ship which will leave these shores shortly on her errand of mercy. The well-known Red Cross flag was flying at the masthead, and her white sides relieved with a broad green stripe from stem to stern, glistened in the bright sunlight. She was berthed at the King's Wharf, where only a few people having business with the ship were allowed on board. The Marama,'s transformation is as complete as can be, and she is now hardly recognisable as the mail liner so well known in the Vancouver and San Francisco mail services. Although the Marama has undergone a transformation on deck, it is down below that everything has been almost completely altered. The once luxurious saloons have been stripped and refitted with everything required to make the lot of maimed and wounded soldiers as easy as possible. The lay-out of the Marama is on practically the same lines a's those of the Maheno. On deck there is a room with a huge steam steriliser, and at the rear is the mortuary. On the deck below are the receiving room and the operating and preparatory rooms. The two latter are fitted in the most up-to-date manner, and electric fans will keep them cool in the hottest climates.

In response to inquiries which have been received as to what will be useful for the patients and stall on the ship, the officer commanding desires it to be known that gramophones, record's, music, quoits and other deck games, apples or other fruits will be gratefully reoeived. Any such gifts may be consigned to the hospital ship, care of Captain Bilton, "K" shed, Railway Wharf, advice being contemporaneously sent to the ship's quartermaster. The Victoria Bowling Club has donated two pianos for use on the vessel, and the sum of £32 40s, which was collected by the passengers and the crew on the Marama on her last voyage from San Francisco, has been devoted to the purchase of a miscroscope for use in the bacteriological laboratory on the ship. One gramophone and records have been donated by Mr. T. Mantle, of Queenstusvn.